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DianeN

Aug 16, 2021 by DianeN

100 NEW LAWS STARTING JULY 1- EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW THESE!

On July 1, 2021, nearly 100 new laws took effect in Connecticut. Below is a summary of some key statutory changes that impacting employers and the workplace.

Minimum Wage Increase

Effective August 1, 2021, Connecticut’s minimum wage increased from $12 per hour to $13 per hour.

The minimum wage will increase to $14 per hour on July 1, 2022 and to $15 per hour on June 1, 2023.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the minimum wage will be published in the employment cost index, which is computed by the U.S. Department of Labor, and for the first time in Connecticut, the rate will rise in accordance with economic indicators.

Recreational Marijuana

Connecticut became the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years and older. The new law will eventually permit the retail sale of marijuana, and erase certain marijuana-related convictions and provides employment protections for recreational marijuana use. Employment-related provisions will come into effect July 1, 2022.

Employers may continue to prohibit employees from working under the influence of marijuana, and from possessing or using marijuana while performing duties or on the employer’s premises.

However, beginning July 1, 2022, non-exempt employers (i.e., employers who are subject to the act’s employment-provisions) may not prohibit the off work use of cannabis or take adverse action against a non-exempt employee (i.e., an employee who is protected) or a potential employee for a positive tetrahydrocannabinol test unless the employer has adopted a policy that states otherwise. Therefore, employers should review and update their drug and alcohol policy, as appropriate.

Employers may continue to conduct workplace drug testing in accordance with Connecticut law.

That is, an employer may take adverse employment action based upon: (i) a reasonable suspicion of an employee’s use of marijuana while performing work duties or on call; or (ii) an employer’s reasonable conclusion that an employee manifests “specific, articulable symptoms of drug impairment, while working at the workplace or on call that decrease or lessen the employee’s performance of the duties or tasks of the employee’s job position.”

The act states that such symptoms include, but are not limited to, the employee’s speech, physical dexterity, agility, coordination, demeanor, irrational or unusual behavior or negligence or carelessness in operating equipment or machinery, disregard for the safety of the employee or others, or involvement in any accident that results in serious damage to equipment or property, disruption of a production or manufacturing process, or carelessness that results in any injury to the employee or others.

The act provides that a positive test result for THC generally cannot be the sole basis for refusing to hire or refusing to continue to employ or otherwise penalize a prospective or existing employee, unless:

  1. Failing to do so would cause the employer to violate a federal contract or lose federal funding;
  2. The employer reasonably suspects an employee’s usage of marijuana while performing work duties; or
  3. The drug test result was based on a random drug test of an existing employee or a preemployment drug test of a prospective employee with a conditional job offer, pursuant to an employer’s written and distributed policy that a positive drug test for THC may result in an adverse employment action.

Employers in certain industries are exempted from having to comply with the employment-related provisions of the act. Exempted industries include: utilities, construction, transportation or delivery, education services, healthcare or social services, justice, public order, and safety activities, and national security and international affairs.

Certain job positions also are excluded from the employment-related job protections in the act. These positions include firefighters, emergency medical technicians, police officers and correctional officers, positions regulated by the Department of Transportation, positions that require OSHA certification of completion in construction safety and health, positions that require U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Department of Energy national security clearance, positions for which the law’s employment provisions are inconsistent or conflict with an employment contract, collective bargaining agreement or federal law, or which are funded in whole or in part by a federal grant; positions that receive federal grants, or require supervision or care of children, medical patients or vulnerable persons, positions with the potential to adversely impact the health or safety of other employees or the public, as determined by the employer, and positions at a nonprofit organization or corporation whose primary purpose is to discourage the use of cannabis, or any other drug, to the general public.

Salary Range Disclosure

As mentioned in our previous blog, New Law Requires Employers to Disclose Wage Ranges and Expands Scope of Gender-Based Wage Discrimination, this new law, which becomes effective Oct. 1, 2021, requires employers to:

  • Provide an applicant the wage range for a position for which the applicant is applying upon the earliest of (1) the applicant’s request, or (2) prior to or at the time the applicant is made an offer of compensation.
  • Provide an employee the wage range for the employee’s position upon (1) the hiring of the employee, (2) a change in the employee’s position with the employer, or (3) the employee’s first request for a wage range.

The law defines a “wage range” as the range of wages an employer anticipates relying on when setting wages for a position.

This can include the actual pay scale, previously determined range of wages, actual range of wages for comparable positions, or the budgeted amount for the position.

New Gender Wage Discrimination Standard

Effective Oct. 1, 2021, Connecticut law will broaden the standard used for determining whether an employer is discriminating based on gender in the wages paid to employees.

Currently, an employee alleging pay discrimination based on gender must prove that they are paid a lower wage than an employee of the opposite gender for “equal” work that requires “equal” skill, effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions.

The new law will prohibit employers from engaging in gender-based pay discrimination for “comparable” work, meaning that two employees exercising a comparable level of “skill, effort, and responsibility” under “similar work conditions.”

Employers may defend such claims of discrimination by demonstrating that a pay differential is made pursuant to: (1) a seniority system; (2) a merit system; (3) a system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production; or (4) a differential system based upon a bona fide factor other than sex, such as education, training, or experience.

The new law expands the list of bona fide factors other than sex to include credentials, skills or geographic location.

Age Inquiries in Employment Applications

Effective Oct. 1, 2021, employers are prohibited from requesting or requiring a prospective employee to provide their age, date of birth, dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution on an initial employment application, unless age is a bona fide occupational qualification or such information is required to comply with any provision of state or federal law.

Discrimination Based on Natural Hair

Connecticut recently passed the CROWN Act, which stands for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.

This law, effective March 4, 2021, prohibits discrimination on the basis of traits historically associated with race including, but not limited to, hair texture, and protective hairstyles.

Protective hairstyles includes, but is not limited to, wigs, headwraps and hairstyles such as individual braids, cornrows, locs, twists, Bantu knots, afros, and afro puffs.

Read Carmody’s previous blog on What Employers Need to Know About Connecticut’s New Anti-Discrimination Law, the CROWN Act for more details.

Employee Demographic Reporting

Employers must, as of the dates noted below, begin reporting employee demographic data with their quarterly unemployment reports.

The demographic data must include each employee’s gender identity, age, race, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, highest education completed, home address, address of primary work site, occupational code, hours worked, days worked, salary or hourly wage, employment start date in the current job title, and, if applicable, employment end date.

Employers with 100 or more employees must start reporting in the third calendar quarter of 2024; employers with 99 or fewer employees must start reporting in the third calendar quarter of 2026; and employers with 49 or fewer employees without an electronic payroll system must start reporting in the third calendar quarter of 2028.

Education Assistance Programs

Employers with 100 or more employees must notify their Connecticut resident employees if the employer offers an education assistance program.

If the employer does offer such a benefit, the employer must provide details of the plan and how employees may apply for such benefits.

Time Off to Vote

Employers must provide each employee two hours of unpaid time off to vote in any state election or special election for U.S. senator, representative in Congress, state senator, or state representative.

To be eligible, the employee must request the time at least two working days in advance of the election. This law is currently in effect.

Workers’ Compensation

Connecticut law has for many years protected workers who assert their rights under the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Act from being discharged or discriminated against by their employer.

Connecticut recently expanded this law to also prohibit employers from disciplining, deliberately misinforming, or deliberately dissuading an employee from filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits or a claim for payment of benefits from the Connecticut Essential Workers COVID-19 Assistance Fund.

COVID-19 Rehiring

A new Connecticut law requires certain employers who are looking to hire employees to initially recall employees who were laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This law applies to hotels, lodging houses, food service contractors, and building service enterprises with 15 or more employees.

The law includes a detailed recall process and generally requires employees to be recalled in order of seniority.

This article was first posted on the Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessy LLP’s Labor and Employment blog and is reposted here with permission.

Filed Under: Legislative News Tagged With: ct new laws, employers, labor laws, new laws

Jul 26, 2021 by DianeN

The Great Outdoors of North East Connecticut!

The Great Outdoors of North East Connecticut!
Your staycation is waiting….
(5) Facebook

Filed Under: Tourism Tagged With: adventure, fresh air, hiking, itinerary, kayak, North East CT, outdoors, windham chamber

Jul 26, 2021 by DianeN

Shopping Paradise

Want to shop? Eager to spend a day with the besties? Overnight with your partner? Check out some inspiring ideas in our video! Just click on the link and enjoy!

(4) Facebook

 

Filed Under: Tourism Tagged With: North East CT, Putnam, shopping, Staycation, TOURISM

Jul 25, 2021 by DianeN

DONT HAVE AN IT GUY? HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO DO TO PROTECT YOUR COMPANY

Cyber attacks are a growing threat for small businesses, and a recent U.S. Small Business Administration survey estimates that an astonishing 88% of small business owners are concerned about being vulnerable to cyber attacks. Many entrepreneurs don’t have the capability to afford IT professionals or don’t know where to start, but it’s important to learn about common threats, understand where your business might be vulnerable, and take concrete steps to improve your cybersecurity.

Below you will find some tips and best practices to protect your small business from cyber attacks.
Be smart about passwords

To improve your cybersecurity, use strong passwords that are unique to your various accounts. While it might be challenging to remember them, being diligent about your passwords will pay off in the long run.

The National Cybersecurity Society has developed a short guide to creating secure passwords for small businesses.
Stay alert

Whether you or your employees are entering data into your systems, sharing information with other partners or just ringing up a sale, it’s critical to be aware of possible phishing attacks. Phishing is a type of cyber attack that uses email or is a malicious website that can infect your computer with viruses to collect your sensitive information.

Phishing emails appear as though they’ve been sent from a legitimate organization or known individual, and these emails often entice users to click on a link or open an attachment containing malicious code. Check out this cheat sheet to keep yourself and your employees aware of possible phishing attacks.
Use antivirus software

Equip your business’ computers and systems with antivirus and antispyware software. You can find an array of programs readily available that fit your small business needs, so make sure to choose a vendor that will configure automatic updates to correct security problems and improve functionality.
Protect your payment processors

Work with your financial institution or payment processor to ensure you have a complex payment system. To help you identify the best system for your business and how to protect it, check out this guide to data security essentials for small merchants.
Set up multi-factor authentication

Whenever appropriate and available, set up multi-factor authentication for your accounts. This process requires small business owners and their employees to provide additional information to add a second layer of security to log in and access sensitive information. Some companies automatically give you the option to set up multi-factor authentication to log into their accounts, so check with your financial institution and other vendors to see if they offer this feature.
Evaluate your business’ cybersecurity preparedness

We encourage you to take the NCSS online survey to assess your business’ vulnerability to cyber attacks and how you may improve your cybersecurity.

For additional how-to guides and frequently asked questions about how to protect your small business from cyber-attacks, visit the National Cybersecurity Society.

Reference:  Venturize

Filed Under: Back To Work 2020, Chamber News Tagged With: computers, cybersecurity, passwords

Jul 25, 2021 by DianeN

FREEDOM FEST CONCERT & MOTORCYCLE RIDE

On July 31 at the Shaboo Stage in Willimantic, the Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a concert featuring the Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, an Americana, Rock and Folk band that has opened for James Taylor.  The concert is a fundraiser for the new Eastern CT Veterans Community Center located at 1320 Main St, Suite 27, Willimantic.  The Community Center is a safe and happy space for veterans, active military and their families where they can meet, learn and grow.  We host many events there, have a weekly Veterans Coffee House and provide access to a variety of veterans services and information ranging from starting your own business to VA benefits assistance.  The Community Center opened on June 10, 2021 and since then we have had hundreds of veterans of all ages visit and take advantage of our programs.  Please help us continue these amazing opportunities for those who have GIVEN ALL in the service of our country and in the name of freedom.  Even if you cannot attend the event you can become a sponsor or make a donation.

The concert will be at the Shaboo Stage, Main St, Willimantic

Gates Open with music and entertainment:  2:00 PM

Concert:  3:00-5:00 PM

VIP Meet & Greet:  5:15 PM at the Windham Historical Society

Motorcycle Registration:  Meet 10:00 AM at the Veterans Community Center, 1320 Main St, Suite 27, Willimantic

Motorcycle Ride begins:  Noon -1:30

Motorcycle lunch & concert:  1:30 at Jillson/Shaboo

Filed Under: Chamber News, Events, Veterans Tagged With: concert, freedom fest, motorcycle, sponsors, veterans

May 19, 2021 by DianeN

NEW COVID RULES AS OF MAY 19

The following rules apply to all Connecticut businesses and organizations and are effective March 19, 2021. Please keep in mind that it is the cumulative effects gained from social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing that will continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Businesses should take these rules as the minimum baseline of precautions needed to protect public health in Connecticut and refer to the recommended guidance by sector listed at the bottom of this page for best practices. Individual establishments should also take additional measures as recommended by industry experts or by common sense applied to their particular situation.

General Recommendations

Businesses/organizations should continue to support local public health contact tracing efforts, such as maintaining a log of employees on-premises over time.

Employers should continue to encourage employees to stay home when sick and encourage working from home when possible. In the event of a positive COVID-19 case, employees shall inform their employers and follow state testing and contact tracing protocols.

Businesses have the right to refuse service from customers not wearing masks.

Social distance markers, signage, and one-way traffic are still encouraged.

In terms of ventilation, facilities should work to increase the percentage of outdoor air that circulates into the system where possible, or use window units.

Businesses are still encouraged to post clear signage that includes the state hotline (211) for employees and customers to report potential violations of these rules. For additional information, please see Safe Workplace Recommendations for Employers.

Effective Friday, March 19, 2021

All Businesses/Organizations

Capacity limits are now up to 100%, subject to social distancing requirements (unless otherwise noted). However, it is the right of the operator/owner if they choose to operate below 100% capacity.

6 ft. spacing and social distancing continues to be required where possible (unless otherwise noted).

Masks continue to be required in all public settings where social distancing is not possible.

All establishments must follow CDC Cleaning and Disinfecting guidelines.

Performers and musical vocalists at restaurants, outdoor and indoor events, and performing arts venues are allowed, subject to the following:

  • 12 ft. spacing or more from the nearest person dining or working (for example, workstations or walking paths used by employees must be included in the 12 ft. distancing).
  • To maximize the protection of their patrons and employees, businesses/organizations are strongly encouraged to require performers to obtain a negative COVID-19 test (PCR) within 72 hours prior to performing.

Sports and Gyms/Fitness Centers

All sports will be allowed to practice and compete, and all sports tournaments will be allowed, subject to Department of Public Health guidance.

Indoor and outdoor pools should limit the total number of patrons in the pool area and pool to the number of people/households that can safely fit on the pool deck area while maintaining 6 ft. of distance, including 3 ft. wide walking paths. “Free swim,” where individuals are not engaged in lap swimming, swim lessons, water aerobics, or other similar organized water activities, is discouraged prior to April 20. Youth and amateur swimming teams are subject to DPH guidance.

Road race organizers are encouraged to follow the guidance contained in the Outdoor Events Reopen Recommendations below.

6 ft. spacing is still required between gym/fitness center customers, as are masks.

Restaurants & Indoor Recreation

6 ft. spacing or non-porous barrier continue to be required between tables, with an 8-person maximum table capacity.

Food Service continues to be required with alcohol service– bars that only serve beverages must remain closed. No standing bar services is allowed outside of private events.

All restaurants and indoor recreation continue to be subject to an 11:00 PM closing time.

Movie Theaters and Performing Arts Venues

Capacity limit is still up to 50%.

6 ft. spacing is required between parties.

All movie theaters and performing arts venues continue to be subject to an 11:00 PM closing time.

Filed Under: Back To Work 2020, COVID-19 Tagged With: COVID MAY 19 MASK REOPENING

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Willimantic CT 06226
Phone: (860) 428-7739

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